by Kelli Ford

Most of you have probably visited Ruby's B-B-Q at 29th and Guadalupe for their all natural free-range Texas beef B-B-Q, or perhaps for my personal favorite veggie tacos and homefries. (Yes, this is Austin, and the herbivores are taken good care of even at a down-home B-B-Q joint.) And chances are that when you stopped in for a bite, you saw owners Patricia and Luke Zimmerman hard at work doing whatever it takes (everything from bussing tables to overseeing kitchen duties) to satisfy the hungry stomachs. And, as you've sat and munched, you've probably noticed the countless crinkled and time-yellowed posters of musicians who have frequented Antone's during the 10 years it was next door. All of this is right up front for all of us to enjoy any time we're hungry for Austin atmosphere and the Zimmerman's home cookin'.

But this article is not a restaurant review. It is hopefully the first in a series of interviews to recognize and give appreciation to some of the people in this city who do more than their share to make sure the rest of us can stop in at an art exhibit on Sunday, catch some world-class musicians creating sounds, or any of many other activities we tend to take for granted. You see, the nonprofit world is a shaky one, and there's a fine, hazy line between no profit and flat busted. There are the obvious "top of the food chain" nonprofits such as the United Way or the Austin Symphony who get vast amounts of their support from major corporations, banks, and big-time private donors -- organizations and people with money to spare. Then there are the smaller nonprofits such as little old us (DiverseArts), Cosmic Intuition, Planet Theatre, and many others who live from grant to grant and event to hopefully well-attended event trying to squeeze through another year. Organizations such as these continue to exist solely because individuals -- regular people like you and me -- and small businesses in the community support them. These individuals and small businesses prove that you don't have to be Dell or a trillionaire to support organizations you care about. And, even if it's not money you're giving, there is always something you can do such as donate time and a warm body to perpetuate the things that make our lives more livable.

This is where Patricia and Luke of Ruby's come in. B-B-Q and slammin' homefries are not the only benefit Austinites reap from the Zimmermans. Though Ruby's keeps them very busy -- at least one of them is there almost every day -- they still manage to contribute much more than their share to Austin's arts scene. Patricia and Luke advertise here in our magazine every month without question and regularly run ads in NOKOA. (And, as I've found out in the past couple of months, every single ad is important in keeping publications such as ours on the streets.) For several years now, they have also helped out DiverseArts with the Austin Jazz and Arts Festival, and they often donate their B-B-Q to be enjoyed by film students at the University of Texas working on a set. Patricia's and Luke's reach into the arts community goes even beyond Austin, as they have also been in touch with projects like the Blue Star Art Complex and Pace Place in San Antonio. They have also been sponsors of Jay Trachtenburg's program, Jazz Etc., on KUT since they opened 10 years ago.

"We have been in business as Ruby's B-B-Q now for 10 years, but we listened to Jay's show for years before that," Luke said, sitting in the little office behind the dish room. "He had his show running -- I forget what it is called, Overnight Jazz I think -- Friday nights from midnight until six in the morning. We were late night people back then -- we no longer are," he says with a laugh. "And we listened to the show every Friday night, and we were really fond of the show and the content. So when we had the opportunity by having opened up the restaurant to be a sponsor of the show, we took it and were happy to do that."

When asked why he and Patricia support the projects they work with, Luke says it's all about the people and personal relationships that develop over time.

"Jay Trachtenburg and I have known each other for a long time; and when we would listen to his show, we would on occasion call up and would compliment selections of his playing and request some. So we had a relationship with Jay before the B-B-Q opened up. I'm not sure exactly how Akwasi [Evans of NOKOA] and us became friends, but it wasn't too long after we opened up. I know I saw Akwasi's paper at Wheatsville Coop and picked it up, and enjoyed reading it. So I called Akwasi up and asked if he would consider distributing at the restaurant, and he's been distributing here ever since. Akwasi started the newspaper shortly before Ruby's started, so we were sort of venturing into the unknown together.

"In Harold's [McMillan of DiverseArts] case, I think we met because he was looking for someone who would be willing to be a sponsor with the beer sales for what was then the Clarksville-West End Jazz Festival. And, I think that he probably contacted us because we had put our license up for the Chronicle for various events. He had probably heard about us that way. I'm not sure, but you just evolve relationships with people you meet....When Clifford [Antone] was behind us here at Antone's, we did very definitely have a relationship with them, and we still do though we don't get to hear the musicians that play there very often since they moved to 4th and Colorado....When they were behind us, it was very simple for us to sneak over and catch a set, but that has been several years. Also, the musicians that Clifford was sponsoring 20 years ago are slowly fading into history. So what you are getting is a new crop of musicians, of course. Which is well and fine -- we just don't get to hear them. The originals, they are not so much with us any longer."

Patricia made it in just as we were about to wrap up the interview and told me about some of the other things they do.

"For ourselves, we do a lot of donations and volunteer things for people working on films. We get a lot of calls weekly, and we do contribute quite a bit to things like that...to film projects and participate and do different things with the Austin Film Society -- probably more so than some of the other areas. Of course Austin is really focused on that....We don't have a lot of free time, but that's something we can do -- supporting film and the Dobie Theater. We have known Scott Dinger (of the Dobie Theater) for a long time -- and he's been a good customer."

As far as advice for other Austin entrepreneurs on how to get involved in the arts scene, Patricia smiles, "I think first you have to have an interest in it prior to starting your own business and then..."

Luke finishes, "...It'll find you."

"Right," Patricia continues,"There are so many ways. If you say, 'Hey, I want to do something for you.' I mean there are so many things that different people need. Whether it's food, a place to hold a meeting, equipment, artwork, advertising....If someone wanted to get involved, I can't imagine that they couldn't find several opportunities."

Yeah. Thanks, Ruby's.